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Mission:

The educational program delivered by the Beef Cattle Extension Unit of Cornell University will use research based knowledge to improve the sustainability of the State's beef industry utilizing the natural, physical, labor and demographic resources of New York State. The goal is a beef industry which is economically and environmentally sustainable while being competitive in the local, national and global area.

Prepared by:  

Mike Baker
Beef Cattle Extension Specialist
Cornell University
Phone:  607-255-5923
Fax:  716-367-3963
Email:  mjb28@cornell.edu

 

 

Please go to our Events & Programs Page to view the Proceedings from the 2012 NY Cattle Feeders & Winter Management Meeting held on Jan. 20th & 21st, 2012 in Syracuse, NY.                  

Grass Finished Value Discovery Program-CATTLE WANTED

For two summers, the Cornell Beef Extension Program has provided an opportunity for farmers producing grass finished cattle to evaluate the genetics of their cattle. The combined results are shown in the two tables below.

Table 1. Performance of cattle finished on pasture at Cornell Beef Unit 2009 & 2010

 

Initial wt, lb

Final wt, lb

ADG, lb

2009 (171 days)

 

 

 

Steers (n=7)

744

1042

1.7

Heifers (n=5)

796

1148

2.1

 

 

 

 

2010 ( 132-140 days)

 

 

 

Steers (n=7)

1018

1188

1.2

Heifers (n=8)

745

894

1.1

 

Table 2. Slaughter Performance of cattle finished on pasture at Cornell Beef Unit 2009 & 2010

Age, mo

HCW, lb

DPa

REA, in2

BF, in

Marblingb

2009

Steers (n=7)

26

604

0.56

11.9

0.21

488 (4 Se)

Heifers (n=5)

29

677

0.56

13.6

0.37

540 (1 Se)

2010

Steers (n=7)

23

689

0.58

11.7

0.3

543 (1 Se)

Heifers (n=2)

21

576

0.60

12.1

0.2

690 (0 Se)

aDressing percent
bEquivalent USDA Quality grades: 400=Select; 500=low Choice; 600=Choice; 700=high Choice

The objective of this project is to teach cow/calf producers the value of their calves based on performance on pasture and on through the packing plant.  The cattle will be intensively grazed at the Cornell Teaching and Research Center, and harvested at their optimal market point. New this year is a potential market for most of the cattle that are finished on grass. Cattle will be charged $0.75/day for pasture (includes minerals), veterinary & medical charges at cost, and a $30 fee to cover costs of individual data collection.  Total cost will vary with performance. Producers will receive data on grazing performance-total gain, and average daily gain, carcass measurements - carcass weight, ribeye area, back fat, quality and yield grade and  economic performance - cost of gain, profit, feeder calf value.
Cattle are to be consigned by May 15 and delivered May 26-27.
If you are interested in this program, please contact Mike Baker, Cornell Beef Extension Specialist at mjb28@cornell.edu, call 607-255-5923 or go to http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/beef/events.html.